Opaque
white (now called milk glass) and opalescent milky white (fiery opalescent)
pieces of glass have been pressed in America since the 1830s. It is thought by some that milk glass was chosen by the less rich, as a substitute for porcelain. Early
such pieces are difficult to find today and are of flint glass (click HERE for
article on Flint glass).
By the 1860s lines of some patterns were made in milk
glass and there are occasional pieces of other patterns found in rare forms which
might have been experimental. Candlesticks and lamp bases were also made in this
pleasant shade.

In the American
beginning (1830s), there were mostly small pieces like drawer pulls
and Curtain Tiebacks - some of which in New Mexico are now used as
towel holders (see below).

Believe
it or not these huge curtain tie backs of opalescent flint weigh
almost
2 pounds each! They would have been used in the mid- 1800sin a mansion
or
possibly a stage curtain.

These
are known as the Sandwich Petal & Shell pattern tie backs. They
have been widely reproduced in many colors today.
The early ones are hard to find but we have some for sale HERE. We use
them for towel holders too.

This
is a good example of what is meant by the term "fiery opalescence".
A heavy, flint cov'd sugar bowl in the early Colonial pattern by Curling
Robinson & Co & others ca 1850s. Look at the 'fire' when the sun is near!